The Role of DNA Testing in Measuring Oil Palm Seed Purity for Quality Assurance: a Case Study in Indonesia

Palm oil belongs to important commodities to support food and energy security, especially for some tropical countries. To increase productivity, quality and sustainability of palm seed production, quality is an important key factor. Various tests of seed purity levels can support this effort. One of them is DNA testing which has recently been widely developed. However, in its implementation, it still faces challenges regarding when the test should be used and at what stage in the supply chain. The application of effective DNA testing is intended to provide a solution to ensure the purity of oil palm seeds and seedlings. The characteristics that determine high-quality and cheap oil palm seeds are found using descriptive analysis of field survey data and questionnaires. In oil palm nurseries, DNA testing application models can be used and have high accuracy. This paper conducts a study related to accuracy, effectiveness and weaknesses that must be improved.